AU: When Draco moves into a new town, he expects to be miserable. What he finds is a green-eyed beauty searching for love. Can Draco show the shy boy what it is to be truly loved? It won't be easy, especially with Harry's possessive boyfriend constantly intervening. SLASH, Abuse, Angst.
Not Beta-ed. Please forgive mistakes or kindly point them out. Thank you.
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize does not belong to me. I only do this for fun.
CHAPTER 3: Salvation's First Step-------------------------------
"What the hell are you doing here?" Tom Riddle glared in the doorway. He was wearing a clean cut, black button down shirt that showed off his bulky muscles. He held a plastic lunch tray in his large hands that was stacked with fruit, a sandwich, and a bowl of steaming soup.
"They're just visiting, Tom," Harry told him with a worried smile.
"I'll bet they are," Tom muttered as he set the tray on the little table beside the bed. "You know I don't like strangers," he spoke quietly to Harry.
Harry moved the tray closer, then patted the spot next to him on the bed. Tom sat stiffly next to him.
"They're my friends," Harry continued with a softer smile, taking a hold of Tom's hand. "They heard what happened and wanted to make sure thatI was okay," Harry leaned over and gave Tom a quick, gentle kiss.
Draco watched as Harry tried to pull away, but Tom grabbed the back of his head forcefully for a harsher, longer kiss. It seemed as if Tom was trying to show his ownership and anger in the kiss. Draco had to grip the arms of his chair tightly in order to avoid expressing his jealousy in a physical manner.
After Tom let the kiss go, he whispered something in Harry's ear that made a mixture of confusion flash in his emerald eyes.
Harry leaned away to look Tom directly in the eyes. "Why can't I have friends?" He questioned.
Tom looked around at the intruding boys, then tightly gripped Harry's arm. "Because I don't like it. You're mine and only mine," he paused, looking down at Harry, his anger showing in his tense posture. "I don't share. Especially not you," he gritted his teeth in irritation.
Harry looked insulted and seemed to gain confidence from the other boys' presence. "Then why do I have no choice in sharing you?" he asked quietly.
Tom looked outraged at Harry's courage and Draco prepared himself to interfere if Tom attacked the precious boy.
After a long, speechless pause, Tom tensly told Harry, "Because I have a reputation to uphold. I have places to be…people to entertain-" He was interrupted by Harry.
"And I get bored working so much just to pass the time waiting for you!" Harry's brow furrowed and his frown deepened. He let go of Tom's hand and pulled the other hand off his arm. Rubbing the bruise forming from Tom's tight grip, Harry continued, "I love you, Tom, but I need friends, too. I can't even look at my coworkers without you freaking out."
"How dare you!" Tom yelled, more angry at being caught in his abusive nature than at what Harry was actually saying. "After all I've done for you! You want to cheat on me? Betray me?" He launched himself off the bed. "Fine! You're just a filthy whore anyway. I can easily replace you."
The sound of Tom's hand as it slapped Harry across the cheek brought Draco and Blaise out of their seats. Blaise grabbed Tom's arm while Draco sat by Harry on the bed. Harry gripped the bruising cheek in shock.
"Don't you lay another finger on him," Blaise calmly demanded, pulling Tom to the door.
Tom resisted Blaise's hold, determined to bring Harry down even more. "You won't last a week without me, Harry. You're too weak. You'll be back, just wait." He allowed himself to be pulled towards the door while addressing the other three boys, "Have a go at him, boys. He gives free head and spreads his legs for anything with a dick."
Blaise punched Tom with such force, Draco was surprised he didn't knock the man's head right off his shoulders. Seamus's face was an angry red as he helped Blaise drag Tom out the door and down the hall, effectively preventing Tom from fighting back.
Seamus and Blaise came back into the room after delivering Tom to a security guard. They took their original seats and watched Harry worriedly.
"I'm sorry for the scene. That was rude of us," Harry admitted, his bright eyes filling with tears.
Draco put his arm around the petite young man, watching him flinch a little. "Don't apologize, Harry. It's not your fault. Tom's a jerk."
Harry wiped his eyes and pulled away, playing with the ears on his teddy bear. "He's not always like that. He can actually be really romantic. He even brought me my favorite tea and some flowers," Harry gestured to themug with a small smile.
Seamus spoke up from his silent corner. "Oh, yeah. Real romantic," he ignored the glares from Draco and Blaise. "He won't even let you have friends," Seamus rolled his eyes.
Harry looked ashamed and Draco glared even harder at Seamus. Thesandy hairedboy had the decency to look sheepish. Softening his features and turning back to Harry, Draco said, "Don't listen to him. He's just jealous," He smiled at Harry, keeping all anger from his face.
Harry returned his smile with a great effort and blushed only a little. "Thanks for not leaving. I don't really want to be alone right now."
"We wanted to stay," Balise truthfully told the shy boy.
Harry looked down at his hands gripping the teddy bear. "Tom really does love me, you know. He just…he doesn't know how to handle his jealousy. We've talked about an anger management class, but he always comes up with some excuse," Harry explained shyly, shrugging.
Draco found Harry's modesty rather endearing and smiled at him. He suddenly thought of an important question and asked, "How are you going to pay for the hospital bill?"
Harry frowned and slowly began, "Well…Tom was going to pay it, but he's…having a temper tantrum…"
"What about your uncle?" Seamus inquired from his seat near the window.
Harry glanced out the window at the other buildings. "Uncle Vernon's insurance never covered me. He hasn't even paid the bills this month," He replied.
Draco thought for a moment. His father had plenty of money to spare. With a new ray of hope, Draco said, "I have the money to pay the bill."
Harry's sparkling emerald eyes looked up at him in surprise. His hands absently played with the teddy's ears again. "You don't have to do that, Drak," he smiled sadly. "You barely know me."
"But I want to know you," Draco replied confidently. He didn't want Harry to think he was becoming an obsessive stalker, but he thought Harry was worth getting to know.
Harry seemed truly surprised and confused. "But why would you want to know me?" he blurted before thinking. He seemed regretful after he let it slip, so he focused on his hands now playing with the frayed edges of the blanket.
Draco gently lifted Harry's chin, carefully watching as the boy flinched then looked shyly into Draco's blue eyes.
Harry blushed a deeper pink with every word Draco spoke, "I think you're beautiful. You deserve to be treated with the utmost delicacy, better than the viciousness Tom treats you with," Draco paused, rubbing soothing circles on Harry's chin with his thumb. "I want to show you what love really is, not the cheap, harsh stuff Tom shoves at you."
Draco finally dropped his hand and let Harry absorb his words for a moment.
Harry's thoughts were flying across his face, changing with each new emotion. Looking back into Draco's eyes with new worry, Harry said simply, "Tom wouldn't like it."
Tom. Of course. There was not way around that bastard. Draco could only expect that since the man had been with Harry for a long time. "Didn't Tom just break up with you?" Draco asked cautiously.
Harry giggled, "Well, no. He just does that. He'll be back after he's had some time to think."
"Don't give him a chance to come back," Blaise said urgently.
"Yeah," Seamus added, "you deserve better, even if it is with Draco. I could live with that," he smiled.
"Thanks," Draco hesitantly said, unsure if Seamus was being truthful. "I'm glad I've got your support," Draco looked back at the smaller boy on the bed. "What do you say, Harry?"
"You want to be boyfriends then?" Harry blushed attractively.
"Yes," Draco answered excitedly. "Will you be my boyfriend?" He asked, teasingly.
Harry giggled, then thought for a moment. "Tom will hate you," he pointed out matter-of-factly.
Draco smirked, delighted to cause Tom some kind of pain. "I know he will. I can protect myself," he paused and added as an afterthought, "And I'll protect you, Harry," he gave the boy an encouraging smile and rubbed the cheek Tom had bruised.
"Aww," Blaise cooed. "Who would have thought? The newbie…a knight in shining armor," he laughed at his own humor and slapped Seamus's arm in fun.
"Ha ha," Draco sarcastically laughed.
Harry giggled, a charming sound Draco was beginning to grow accustomed to, like a melody. "Okay, Drak. I'll be your boyfriend," he kissed Draco's cheek quickly and softly. Draco nearly missed the tiny flutter of affection. The butterflies in his stomach were practically doing summersaults.
Draco couldn't stop smiling as Harry ate his lunch and shared personal details so they could get to know one another.
Harry told Draco petty details, the kind that don't mean much until added together to create a person. Harry's favorite color was ocean blue, his favorite song was Boys II Men "I Swear," and his favorite hobby was writing poems, stories, or essays. Anything he could surge passion into.
Harry continued shyly, blushing at the attention. "My favorite place would have to be…" he hesitated, sharing a secret smile with the teddy. "Probably the back stoop of my uncle's apartment complex. When the sky is really clear, you can see the stars perfectly. It's beautiful," he finished quietly.
"It sounds like a lovely sight," Draco smiled at the poetic splendor of Harry's statement. "You'll have to show it to me sometime." Harry smiled up at him and cutely blushed.
Draco shared the same type of details before visiting hours were over. He told Harry his favorite color was green, his favorite song was "Collide" by Howie Day, and his favorite hobby was playing the piano. His favorite place was not nearly as beautiful as Harry's, but just as sentimental. He loved sitting by the fire with a good book and pleasant company.
"I like to read, too!" Harry exclaimed excitedly.
"You'll have to join me sometime, Harry," Draco kissed Harry's cheek and watched the boy blush once again. He glanced at the cheap, rotting flowers next to the bed, mentally telling himself to bring nicer ones tomorrow.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Drak. Take care, Seamus, Blaise," Harry said with a shy little wave.
"Later, Har," Seamus and Blaise left the room and Draco blew Harry a kiss, provoking another blush to grace Harry cheeks.
"Get some rest," Draco ordered before heading home.
CHAPTER 3: Salvation's First Step-------------------------------
AN:--- I do not have a specific update schedule, but I am going to try to make sure I get at least one chapter a week out, maybe more, depending on the reviews I receive (Reviewers are my motivation to continue! ;-) This will probably be my last post for about a week, unless I get lots of reviews (I'm not trying to be selfish, I just need encouragement to get off my lazy bum) I'm finally on summer break, so I should be able to make the chapters a bit longer. If you have any questions, specific comments, or requests, my e-mail can be found on my Author's Page.
Thanks To My Reviewers: ----
fudgebaby, seekerin20 Jekyll (I'm so happy to hear that someone has heard that old song before!), Passtehlufleh, Yana5, Crazy4James23, firefairy42, Agnus Dei, Ningchan, MyOriginalIntent, blondie, dairygirl, and Shakespeares Whore (Extremely sorry if I forgot anyone).
SPECIAL NOTES:-------
Aveeno-Baby: Thanks for your review ;-) I was hoping to talk to you about your beta offer. I can't find your e-mail or anyway to contact you, so I hope you see this! Please e-mail me!
seekerin2000: Blushes I was so flattered by your review I must hide under a rock until I stop looking like a tomato. Thank you! I hope this chapter was just as pleasant for you!
starryone21: Thanks for your review! My favorite AU stories are: "Stonewall High" by SpitefulPixiDust & "Some Kind of Feeling" by Maximum Poofy (Both of them should be in my favorites for easy access. Enjoy!) My all time favorite HP fanfic is "Recnac Transfaerso" by Celebony (It's not AU, but the themes are rather AU. It's beautifully written. I can't get enough of the stories that author writes. I hope you like it!)